Hey Treebeard, HSMITH
Everything that got 2 1/2 or 3 stars. (Most All Pltd or Jktd bullets, a Couple of Moly Coated)
Precision 200 SWC shot VERY well and they should be able to give great results with some more load work. I had a load that did not smoke much at all but I failed to document it!!! Oh well. Write it down, dummy!( may have been AA # 5)( maybe not, but it was very accurate) If I start shooting in competition( meaning lots of bullets downrange) I will probably look seriously at working up a load with this bullet. The Bear Creek 230 TrFP shot very well, but was VERY smokey and poorly plated and dirty to handle vs the Precision bullets.
For ease of flowing through a measure, consistent charge wieghts, excellent ES & SD, velocity, and less recoil for said velocity the AA # 2 is hard to beat in the .45 ACP with 200 & 230 Gr. bullets. Gives a lot of muzzle flip with light guns and 185 Gr. bullets. A comped gun benefits as it is real nice with Berry's 185 Gr. SWC through my comped Silver Team. ( which is also heavy, of course) (A sweet shooter, which is why I tried the Witness Elite Match)
AA # 2 will leave some unburned powder until pressure gets up there.
N310 is pretty awesome for target velocities, but I don't know if it is worth the money.
AA # 5 is excellent for high velocities with 200 & 230 Gr. bullets
Universal Clays won't give the best ES or SD in the .45 but it is accurate and consistent for me. It meters pretty well and it is bulky and with it's color is easy to see in the case. I like those two things. I bought my second lb of it 2 years after my first and the wieghts by settings on my 10X powder measure were exactly the same as the first lb. WOW, not every powder can do that from lot to lot. I bought a 4 lb der at the last gun show here. It is awesome with Zero 165 Gr. JHP's in the .40 S&W and shoots well in the .45 ACP. Originally bought it for .45 Colt and it was good in that as well. Nice all around powder for good to excellent loads in many calibers.
N340 is very accurate and clean in the .45, but exspensive. Won't give top velocities even going by old data which is .4 grs. higher for a 230 Gr. bullet than the online data for N340 now. Also gives more recoil than most for the same velocity.
N320 works VERY well also. At full load level it has virtually no smoke, burns ultra clean and is very accurate although it will not give top velocities. It is also very accurate at slower speeds although the ES & SD go up and its not as clean. But again, it's exspensive. AA # 2 will do everything it will do almost as well at half the price.
I have tried - N310, Solo 1000, Titegroup, AA # 2, American Select, Clays, N320, W231, (Zip is Loaded), Universal Clays, Power Pistol, AA # 5, N330, N340, & Blue Dot (did not try my 700X which is great in .44 Spl.)(might work great?) Would like to try WST & WSF.
In .45 ACP I have had good success with Berry's 200 Gr. HP (not the 200RFN) Berry's 230 RN shoots OK, Berry's 185 Gr. SWC can be very accurate with the right combo, but seems picky.
Hornady's 200 Gr. FMJ-CT is super accurate, period.
Raniers 200 Gr. SWC is almost as good. (not Raniers 200 FP or HP or 230 gr. RN) Ranier 200 Gr. SWC in bulk from Midway with the free frieght option would be hard to beat for a good match bullet.
Zero 230 Gr. JHP shoots very well.
Precision 200 SWC shoots very well.
Bear Creek 230 TrFP shoots very well, but is as dirty to handle and as smokey as lead.
In the .40 the Zero 165 Gr JHP is serious accurate.
Raniers 155 Gr. TrFP is accurate, but is snappy at high end loads.
Berry's 180 Gr. TrFP can be very accurate and gives less recoil, especially in my XD SC.
In the 9MM the Rem 124 GS is serious accurate.
I just got some Zero 125 Gr. JHP's for the 9MM, but have not shot them yet. My EMP is at SA.